Reflection #4

Today we were introduced to creating a digital storybook. I am really excited about this assignment, a little bit nervous too. I am not the most technologically savvy person, so this will be a learning experience for me.

From what I understand a digital storybook is another way for us to present information. (In my opinion one of the best ways to present information.) I think that digital storybooks will be an awesome way for me to introduce different topics to my students. What a fun way to let them have an overview of what we will be learning.  

While in class I had the opportunity to view an Internet site entitled www.digitalstories.org, it was an interesting site with a lot of information.  It had some really good examples of what a digital storybook is.  I enjoyed the opportunity to view various examples of digital storybooks. 

My focus for this week has been scripting my digital storybook.  Scripting goes hand in hand with designing.   My first goal was to choose which standard and objective I want to teach. 

After choosing my subject area, I have been sorting through various images, music, and information that I would like to share.  The intent of my digital storybook is to engage students in the learning process by sharing factual information in an unemotional manner.  I am excited to be learning about this teaching method and have no doubt I will find it a useful skill in my future classroom.  

Learning Log #3

We touched on so many different things today I am not sure what topics to write on. I guess I can start with the definition of Intelligence. Intelligence is the ability to apply prior knowledge and experiences flexibly to accomplish challenging new tasks. I learned a lot about different types of intelligences, such as fluid, crystallized, and distributed. We spent a good chunk of time discussing Gardner's multiple intelligences. (Linguistic, Logical-Mathematical, Spatial, Musical, Bodily-Kinesthetic, Interpersonal, Intrapersonal, and Naturalist.) We also discussed IQ tests and, the fact, that they were originally created to help assess which individuals may need help in their learning.

All of the things we talked about today are topics that I will visit time and time again as I continue on into the field of education. In my future classroom I am sure that I will deal with students with various intelligences and learning styles.

By understanding my students various intelligences and learning styles I will be better equipped to help them learn. As a teacher I want to understand my students strengths and weaknesses, their challenges, and gifts. If I am aware of who they are and how they learn then I can help them to become successful students.

Reflection #3

Today we learned about making a Google site! (Website) Totally fun. So I have been trying to decide what the difference is between a blog and a Google site. I have come to the conclusion that a Google site is something that you set up and tend not to alter very often, whereas a blog is something that is continually evolving.

I am having so much fun learning about all of these different things and I can think of countless ways to utilize them. How fun would it be to have a classroom website where I can post links to different things that might interest the students. It would also be really fun to have the class site include a basic picture and small bio about each student in the class along with a link to their individual blogs and information needed to contact them. We could make it a closed site that only they could access for security issues. Then the kids in the class would only have to remember one on line site in order to find and connect with any other student in the class. Combine this with smart boards and we would be set to go!

Seriously, I really enjoy learning about these different technologies and cannot wait until I have my own classroom and can utilize them in an educational setting. Thanks for providing instruction and answering my many questions!

Intelligence Tests Assessment

IQ test

I enjoyed taking this test, and received a higher score than I had expected. I found my results interesting. My results stated that my biggest strength is general knowledge and my biggest weakness is mathematics. I love math and have always done well with it, I never would have assumed that it would be classified as one of my weaknesses. I was also surprised to see that my scores in all nine categories were extremely close, only separated by a few points. I feel that the results are most likely valid, because I have no reason to think otherwise. (Not to mention, who doesn't like to feel smart!)

Multiple Intelligence Test

I have to say that I also enjoyed taking this test. This is the second multiple intelligence test that I have taken in the last few weeks. The results of this test lined up perfectly with the results from my first multiple intelligence test. I have four main multiple intelligences that are equal across the board, they are linguistic, logical, interpersonal, and musical. From here things begin to vary. My second form of intelligence is kinaesthetic, followed by visual/spatial. My fourth intelligence is intrapersonal, and my last intelligence is naturalistic. I feel that these results are utterly valid, especially considering that this is the second test of this type I have taken recently and the results are exactly the same. (Kind of cool!) I also find it interesting that my main intelligence is tied between four individual intelligences.

Reflection

Both tests provide interesting and useful information. I might consider using the multiple intelligence test with my future students, if they show an interest in having an official idea of how they learn best. Knowing their personal learning style is something that may help a student throughout their educational experience. It can also be beneficial to their educators.

Although the IQ test may be beneficial, when applied to students, I feel that it's negative effects outweigh the positives. I would not use the IQ test with my students. A student's IQ is irrelevant to their education. Regardless of how intelligent or unintelligent a student is they should be held to a set standard. I also worry that if a child were to be aware of their IQ it might alter their self confidence and/or personal expectations. Children should feel that they are capable of accomplishing what they set their mind to. If a child's intelligence is labeled than a cap is put in place as to what they might achieve.

Learning Log #2

Today we focused on cultural and ethnic differences in the classroom. A few of the topics that we focused on were cultural mismatch, dialect, personal space, IRE cycle, wait time, worldviews, stereotypes, visual-spatial ability, socioeconomic statues, at risk students, and gender schema/differences.

I feel that all of these topics are extremely important because, they are topics that I will be likely to encounter at some point in my future teaching career. All of these topics greatly affect children and the way that they are able to learn, the way that they should be taught, and the way that other students interact with them. Teachers need to understand and respect cultural and ethnic differences. They also need to teach their students to understand and respect cultural and ethnic differences.

As I teacher I want to make sure that I understand my students differences. I want to understand where they are coming from and why they are the way that they are. I will be willing and able to collaborate with the parents of my students so that they are provided with a learning environment that will maximize their potential. I want my students to not only embrace what they share in common but also what makes them unique. Students need to know that to be different is ok. Life experiences can shape us but ultimately we decide who and what we will become. My students will learn that they can overcome obstacles, human nature is resilient and my students will know and respect this inert ability.

Reflection #2

Today we learned about "Google documents," and "Google chat." Both of these things were mentioned in our previous class, but today we got an in depth, hands on lesson. (If I understand correctly "Google chat" is a instant messenger, and "Google doc's" is a wiki. Google doc's is a wiki, because it is a place where multiple individuals can collaborate on one document all at once.)

Class today was a great learning experience for me. I have never used a Google document/"wiki" before and this was a neat experience. I appreciate someone taking the time to show me how and what to do when using these Google features. I think that Google documents work the best when not all collaborators are working on the document at the exact same time. In class today I noticed that when all individuals are working at the same time it can not only get confusing, but information may be lost due to multiple people submitting their work at the same time. If multiple individuals are going to be working on the document at the exact same time Google chat is a great way for them to communicate. By using Google chat to communicate with each other it leaves Google documents reserved for work only.

I am excited that we learned about Google documents today, because I have a group project due on Monday and we are going to use Google documents to put together our handout. The plan is for each of us to contribute our individual sections and then collaboratively tie them together. Google documents is perfectly suited to our group, we are all busy individuals and by using this wiki we are able to accomplish something that would prove to be much more difficult otherwise.

I have no doubt that in my future career as an educator I will utilize instant messenger's and wikis in order to not only communicate with students but also with other educators. What a great way for us to share ideas and collaborate in the classroom and workplace. These Google tools allow busy individuals to correspond with each other when other options are unavailable or simply not feasible.

Research Study

I have always been interested in children's literacy, so I chose to focus on that topic for this assignment. While searching on the Internet I stumbled across a website entitled "reading horizons." This website is geared towards phonetic reading instruction and the positive effect it can have in the classroom.

On the home page is states that "Literacy programs in any setting—from public and private schools to family literacy centers to correctional facilities—thrive on the solid phonics foundation provided by these time-tested, research-based programs." When I saw that the homepage mentioned that this program was "research-based," I immediately thought this would be worth looking into. I ended up viewing a research study that was conducted at Huntington Elementary school in Huntington, Utah.

The study focused on 21 first grade students for 4 months. The students were tested using the state core reading test. They were tested once before being taught with the Discover Intensive Phonics program and once after it had been implemented. The post assessment showed that students were scoring at or above 90%.

The information provided regarding this research was not as thorough as I would have liked. The test group that was used for this study seemed relatively small, but then again the Huntington study was one of many. For a quick overview of the results it was more than adequate. It did explain the testing procedures along with what test was used. It also showed where each individual student tested before and after the program. Based on all of the information that was provided, I would feel comfortable assuming that the results are valid.


(Who knows, maybe I will impliment the Discover Intensive Phonics program in my future classroom!?!)

Learning Log #1

There are four main types of research. They are descriptive, correlational, experimental, and action.

• Descriptive research describes a situation. With descriptive "you get what you see." Descriptive research is mainly beneficial when used as a foundation for other types of research. The conclusions derived from descriptive research contain qualitative and/or quantitative information. When working with descriptive research it is important to remember that it is not correlational or cause and effect.


• Correlational research shows how things interrelate. It can show how different things affect other things. (Whether they change each other or not.) This type of research is great at showing the strength of relationships, but it doesn't explain why relationships exist.


• Experimental research allows conclusions to be drawn which can be proven. It shows cause and effect relationships. Experimental research is a bit more complex than the other forms of research. There must be a control group and at least one test group in order to provide a reliable study. Often quasi-experimental research is done in place of true experimental research. (A semi-experiment is much easier to perform than a true experiment.)


• Action research is research done by teachers and other school personnel. It is research aimed at specific problems and situations that reside in individual schools and classrooms. It can take any form and is extremely personal. Although, it can be time consuming and labor intensive to perform action research, the results can be extremely beneficial due to the fact that they are unique to an individual school and/or classroom.

As an educator it will be important for me to know and understand the various types of research, there strengths and weaknesses, and the results that they provide. I want to know the best ways to encourage learning in my students, research will help me to discover the methods that will work best for myself and my students.

Research is a crucial tool that is at my disposal, and as an educator I want to utilize that tool and make the most of it. If I take the time to learn from the past as well as the present then I will be maximizing my teaching ability.

Reflection #1

Today I was asked to post a reflection on technology and how I might integrate it into my future classroom.

This is a totally loaded question to ask. I could go from tangent to tangent concerning my opinion on different types of technology and how I might integrate them into my classroom.

I am loving all of the different things that are available through the Internet. Some of the things that pop into my mind are the things that we touched on in class today, G-mail, blogger, and facebook, just to name a few. All wonderful resources that can be used interactively with a class.

What a great way for a teacher to stay in touch with her students outside of the classroom. It is also so important that students in this day and age understand how to utilize the wonderful technology that is available to them. So often technology is viewed as something that attributes to antisocial behavior, but with all of the things that are available (previously mentioned) technology can be used as a way for students to stay social and interactive while connecting through a learning opportunities and assignments.

All in all, I am excited for technology and the ways that I will be able to utilize it in my classroom. I am enjoying learning about new technologies and the ways that I will be able to utilize them in my future career.